This hill is located in Tambon
Tao Pun, Amphoe Photharam, 17 kilometres north of Ratchaburi
along the Khao Ngu-Boek Phrai route (Route No. 3089). The
roadside hill has 2 interesting caves; Tham Phra Non housing
more than 100 Buddha images and Tham Khangkhao or Bat Cave,
which is home to some three million bats. As the sun sets
over the horizon, they all disperse on their search for food
and the mountain looks like a volcano disgorging thick black
smoke.
More than 300 Nang Yai puppets
are well preserved at this temple, some 10 kilometres from
Amphoe Photharam. Nang Yai is an old form of entertainment
which gathers many kinds of arts; for example, Thai
sculpture and classical performances. The intricate carved
pupputs are protrayed on the screen by skilled male
performers, and it can dance according to the music. The
performance is usually demonstrated on Saturday from
10.00-11.00 a.m.
This
100 year old ethnic Mon temple is at Tambon Khlong Ta Khot,
Amphoe Photharam, some 22 kilometres from Ratchaburi. The
fine mural paintings about Lord Buddha's life in the main
shrine hall are full of detail making them seem real.
Completed in the early Bangkok period, they are very rare
and worth studying. The temple also houses a Thai style
building entirely made of teak with intricate carving
designs.
